Isabella cried herself to sleep. After the wedding had happened, she diredtly went back to Villa Conchita and into her room.
"Madam", her servant, Antonia called. "Leave me be, Antonia. I want some quite time for myself", Isabella dismissed. "Understood Madam", Antonia obediently left and stand outside Isabella's room.
Antonia is Isabella's personal and most trusted handmade. They were like sisters and it pains her to see Isabella crying and miserable. She understand her Datu but she still had grievances. After all, her Madam is a kind woman and she had witness all the sacrifices her madam had went through just to conceive a child for the Datu.
But who is she? A mere trusted hand-servant of the madam. She cannot interfere in such affairs and could only pray to Bathala(1) to give her madam strength.
While everyone is celebrating, Isabella is inside her room. The windows and doors are all closed and locked from the inside. Isabella reach for the flint beside her bed and light the candle. Illuminating the room, she went into the window. Opening it, a fresh night breeze blow into her face. She inhaled deeply.
She could still hear distant noises. She frowned. The full moon is already high up in the sky but the feast had not been done yet? It's been four days and her husband had not returned home. It seemed that the feast is still on going. The bright light of the moon shone against Isabella making her look paler. In the past few days, aside from eating she mostly spend her days crying hence her eyes are so puffed and her nose is red. She knew it was unacceptable behavior especially for such a high-profile womam like her. But does anyone understand her pain? She had taken all kinds of various medicines. Went to a hilot(2) just to check if her ovaries are in the right place.
She sacrificed many things for her relationship. It was just a little too hard for her to bear the idea that her husband had taken a concubine and by the way he treats the new woman, it seems that her husband had truly doted on Pamela. Though she knew this would happen, she did not expect it to be too soon.
After a week, the feast had ended and Datu Isagani brought Pamela into Villa Conchita. He is introducing Pamela to his servants when he noticed that his wife, Isabella did not meet them. He ask a maid about his wife's whereabout and found out that the mistress of the hoise had gotten ill and did not get out of bed for already a week. It is actually true, after Doña Isabella returned home , aside from Antonia, no one had seen the Madam went out from her room. Aside from that, only Antonia has the permission to enter Isabellas chambers.
Isabella had given Antonia instructions that no one is allowed to get near her chambers. Antonia had tried persuading her madam to go out but she wouldn't listen. Deep in her heart, she is starting to be afraid of the abnormality of her madam. It all started on the fourth day after she went back. She cannot put a finger to it. When Antonia heard the news that the Datu is back, she reported to him immediately.
"Datu Isagani, I apologize for being rude but can I have a moment?" Antonia pleaded. "It is about the Madam", she paused, "the madam had not been feeling well when she returned a week ago, I am getting more worried because starting yesterday in the afternoon, she won't open her door and had not yet eaten. I hope you can check on her", Antonia finish and bowed her head. "You dare to command me?" Datu Isagani narrowed his eyes to the servant. "I do not dare, Datu", Antonia replied shaking. "Very well, I'll go to your madam's chamber after Pamela is settled". "Thank you, Datu", with that Antonia bowed and left hurriedly.
After Isagani introduced Pamela to everyone, he ask the servants to attend to Pamela. Pamela is very unwilling to part with Isagani. She know the reason why Isagani married her and she will do everything to get the love and attention. "My Lord, can you not show me my chambers instead? I am just new here and I want to spend some time with you", Pamela asked coquettishly. With Pamela's soft voice and pleading look, Isagani sighed and headed. But before he went with Pamela, he instructed a servant to tell Antonia that he will visit the madam the next day.